The NBA is expected to announce Wednesday a unique season-long, league-wide community service program aimed to boost the rebuilding effort in New Orleans in a year when the league will hold its marquee event, the 2008 All-Star Game, in the city.

The official announcement is expected to be made by NBA Commissioner David Stern in a press conference at Walter K. Cohen High School at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, the same day the Hornets tip off the 2007-2008 regular season with a game against Sacramento at the New Orleans Arena.

Stern is expected to be joined at the announcement by Mayor Ray Nagin, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, Deputy Superintendent of the Louisiana Department of Education Ollie Taylor, Hornets owner George Shinn and Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.

"This program says that we're very committed to helping them rebuild and to the rebirth of the Crescent City," said Bob Lanier, a special assistant to the NBA commissioner. "The NBA truly cares. It's not just a slogan. We're committed to being difference-makers around the world."

Wednesday's ribbon-cutting event at Cohen will mark the start of a cooperative plan by the Hornets and NBA to create 30 family community resource centers in the Recovery School District and an additional five centers in Jefferson Parish schools. The centers, featuring donated new technology and resources, will serve as places to encourage an increased level of family involvement in education.

The NBA's season-long outreach campaign will not be limited strictly to Hornets players and staff. Executives, sponsors, media reps and NBAPA personnel will also participate. Every visiting team will participate in some form of community service activity when they visit New Orleans for a game.

Together, the league is committed to "perform more than 30,000 hours of hands-on community service" in New Orleans.

The first step in that mission began Tuesday when members of the Sacramento Kings participated in the Hornets' Read to Achieve program at the Audubon Nature Institute's Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.

In order to participate in the program, the Kings had to leave California a day early, arriving in New Orleans on Monday night. Normally NBA teams travel to road games the day before a game.

"That's huge," Hornets center Tyson Chandler said. "It just shows the level of commitment the NBA has made in helping New Orleans. I've never been a part of event like this with two teams. It's unique."